Author: Community Contributor

County Plows Ready for Season’s First Snow

Coconino County Public Works crews are prepared to keep County roads open and passable during the first snowstorm of the 2022-2023 winter season, which is forecast to hit Northern Arizona this week. 

According to the National Weather Service, rain and snow showers are expected across northern Arizona starting Wednesday night and lasting into Friday, with the heaviest expected Thursday morning/afternoon. Minor accumulations are expected down to about 5000 feet with around 4 to 6 inches expected above 6500 feet. 

The NAU Review — Celebrate Native American Heritage Month, World Vegan Day and a Big Sky win!

Participate in different events, including speakers, panels, Stew Fest, Rock Your Mocs and a variety of other interactive and educational activities. The month recognizes the significance of Native American history, culture and issues and what this means to our students, faculty, staff and the Flagstaff community. “Most importantly,” Ora Marek-Martinez said, “we would like to take the time this month to educate our communities about the important sacrifices and contributions that Native Americans have made to our country and communities.” NAU sits at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, on homelands sacred to Native Americans throughout the region. We honor their past, present and future generations who have lived here for millennia and will forever call this place home.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 2022

Key Messages-Week of October 31, 2022 Sign up for the Weekly Wrap Up Here COVID Updates Arizona and Local Statistics  As of October 27, the CDC Community Level for Coconino County continues to be Low. In Arizona, 13 counties are in Low…

Short-Term Flood Mitigation Projects Move Forward

FLAGSTAFF — On October 25, the Coconino County Flood Control District (District) Directors approved investing up to $11.5 million in a set of smaller scale flood mitigation projects in the Schultz/Pipeline Flood area. These projects will restore the capacity of some of the existing flood mitigation measures in the area and reduce flood impacts to the Doney Park area through construction of a series of berms near Landfill Road. 

The District Directors received an in-depth presentation regarding the District’s short-term on-forest and neighborhood mitigation projects and staff requested a budget adjustment in the amount of $10.5 million to cover the costs. The funding will come through a loan from the County’s General Fund. After the presentation and clarifying questions from Board members, the budget adjustment was approved unanimously by those present. 

19th Annual Celebraciones de la Gente to be held Oct. 29-30 at the Museum of Northern Arizona

Click here for Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra/Museum of Northern Arizona/Flagstaff Nuestras Raíses’ “Celebraciones” concert on Oct. 28, 2022.

FLAGSTAFF — The Museum of Northern Arizona and Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces will present the 19th Annual Celebraciones de la Gente / Día de los Muertos celebration from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30 at 3101 N .Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff.

The 19th Annual Celebraciones de la Gente Festival is an unparalleled opportunity to experience the history and culture of Mexican, Mexican American, and LatinX communities in Northern Arizona. Also known as the Day of the Dead, this event is a celebration of life, music, dance, food and heartfelt remembrances.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Oct. 24-28, 2022

Tamale Sale-GRCA School
Fundraising efforts for 8th grade class underway

The fundraising for the 8th grade trip to Washington D.C. has officially begun!

The vision of the Washington, D.C. field trip is to engage students as citizens in American Democracy. The mission is to provide 8th grade students at Grand Canyon School an opportunity to capstone their 8th grade civics curriculum by engaging with locations that exhibit how people of the past and present change the world through the processes in American Democracy.

For more information, please see the attached flyer here.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — What CHIPS Could Mean for Northern Arizona

Earlier this month, ECoNA’s Advisory Council heard a presentation from Joe Russell, Legislative Assistant to Senator Mark Kelly, about the implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act, which was signed into law this past August.

For more than a year, Sen. Kelly had championed the underlying pieces of legislation that formed the act, and served as the Arizona representative on the conference committee to reconcile the Senate and House versions of the bill.

The Act includes a $52 billion plan to boost domestic microchip manufacturing; a four-year, 25% investment tax credit to provide long-term incentives for semiconductor manufacturers and suppliers to construct or expand facilities in the United States; and $13.2 billion for research and development and workforce development.

Winter Parking Ordinance Takes Effect Nov. 1

Coconino County’s annual Winter Parking Ordinance goes into effect on November 1, 2022. The ordinance, which will remain in place until April 1, 2023, prohibits vehicles from parking along county-maintained right of way at all times both to facilitate safer snow removal operations and to help mitigate dangerous snow related traffic congestion and parking issues. 

Accessible Voting Options Available Including Language Access

Coconino County Elections Vote Centers and polling locations provide accessible voting devices for voters that need visual, hearing, or language assistance. 

The accessible voting devices have a touchscreen that voters can use to mark their paper ballot. These devices must meet federal requirements and pass a State of Arizona test before each election. Election workers at polling locations have been trained to help voters with the devices. 

These devices also provide language accessibility of the ballot in Spanish, Navajo, and Hopi. Coconino County has a population of just over 145,000, with approximately 27.5% Native American and 15% Hispanic (U.S. Census Bureau). 

United Way of Northern Arizona — Your Gift Puts Roofs Over Heads

Homelessness – whether temporary or long-lasting – has become a more dire crisis in the past year.

According to the Arizona Department of Economic Security, the number of unhoused Arizonans was nearly 11,000 in early 2020. As of December 2021, that number is estimated to have increased by nearly 30 percent.

A tragic trifecta has driven up the numbers of those without housing – rapidly rising housing costs, persistent inflation for basic necessities, and the end of pandemic-era protections to keep people from being evicted.

The NAU Review — Celebrating World OT and International Religious Freedom Day, scary movies and RaMPing up research

Opportunity + Choice = Justice
Arantxa Amaya always knew she wanted a career that allowed her to help underserved communities become healthier. This goal led her to NAU’s occupational therapy program at the Phoenix Bioscience Core, where she is working on her doctorate. For World Occupational Therapy Day, learn more about one of the NAU students preparing for a career in this critical field of health care: “In the future, I would like to continue my OT journey in the field of pediatrics. I know I want to serve my community, working with underrepresented populations and advocating for diversity within the profession.” 

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y presents free webinars on understanding how emotions impact adult and child relationships

We are so excited to announce our newest offering.
Motivated by a long wait list for behavioral health services, and aware of challenging adult and child emotions causing behavior difficulties, Bethany Camp put this two part training together for CCC&Y to help meeting a wide-spread community need.

First we learn to understand our emotions and then we can understand and respond to the big emotional responses of children.

Watch Webinar – Managing Adult Emotional Responses, Part One

Watch Webinar – Helping Children Manage Their Emotions, Part Two

These videos are meant to help support our community. Having the tools to take care of ourselves and respond to children, is a great resource.

Trainer
Bethany Camp, LCSW, Private Practice

Please share far and wide in our community- especially for those who parent, care give or work with children.

Willard Springs Green Waste Site to Close for Winter. Last day of Oct. 29

The last day of 2022 operations for the Willard Springs Green Waste Site will be Saturday, October 29, 2022. Willard Springs will be closed throughout the upcoming winter season, which runs each year between November 1 and March 31, so that Coconino County can reopen the station for green waste-only disposal on Saturday, April 1, 2023.

The NAU Review — Tackling health disparities through big data, meet the ASNAU President and saving the monarch butterfly

How can big data help eliminate health disparities?

Amit Kumar grew up in one of the poorest areas of the world. He’s seen firsthand how systemic inequalities, often attributed to race and poverty, affect people’s health. The assistant professor’s research has looked at these disparities in various communities, particularly focused on stroke care, and his work is going to a new level with a $3.8 million grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. The project won’t just identify disparities in treatment and health outcomes among stroke patients; Kumar’s goal with this work is to help health care providers, policymakers and patients make more informed decisions and provide better care.

Friday, Oct. 28 is the Last Day to Request An Early Ballot by Mail for Nov. 8 General Election

The Coconino County Recorder’s Office reminds registered voters that the last day to request an early ballot to be mailed to you for the November 8 General Election is Friday, October 28 at 5:00 pm.  Voters on the Active Early Voting List (AEVL) should have already received their early ballot by mail.  If not, you should call the Recorder’s Office.

The ballot for the General Election is quite long because it contains several candidate races and ballot questions.  “Voters may want to request an early ballot be mailed to them so they can take their time voting,” suggested County Recorder Patty Hansen. 

Sedona Arts Center — You won’t want to miss these paint outs!

Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Creekside Paint Out at L’Auberge, 10:00am –12:00pm
The Festival’s Creekside Paint Out is hosted by L’Auberge de Sedona, and the public is invited to the edge of the water to watch artists as they depict the spectacular scenery and flowing Oak Creek. The location includes still and moving water, reflections, sycamores, ducks and stunning rock waterfalls. At noon, awards will be presented to the artists and the works created at the event will be available for sale immediately following on the lawn. Attendees can park in the Arts Center lower parking lot and take the free shuttle to and from  L’Auberge from 8:30am to 1:30pm. Paintings will then be on sale at the Sedona Arts Center Special Exhibition Galleries throughout the remainder of the Plein Air Festival.

Compost your dried leaves and pine needles this fall

The City of Flagstaff invites the public to drop off dried leaves and pine needles at three drop-off locations in Flagstaff on Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30.

Bags of dried leaves and pine needles can be delivered to the following locations between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.:

Jay Lively Activity Center (1650 N Turquoise Dr)
Continental Park (5650 E Old Walnut Canyon Rd)
University Highlands Park (3888 S Jewel Dr)

Eric Heiser selected as CCC President

The Coconino Community College District Governing Board announced during its Oct. 19 meeting that Dr. Eric Heiser will be the next president of the college.

“After a national search with more than 50 applicants, the District Governing Board is excited to announce the selection of Dr. Heiser as Coconino Community College’s next president,” said Dr. Nat White, Chair of the Board. “The college is positioned through the past leadership of Dr. Colleen Smith and community support through the passage of the tax reset, to leap forward in serving the residents of Coconino County – from workforce training and associate degrees to pathways to baccalaureates.”

White added that Dr. Heiser brings successful urban and rural college and national experience that matches well with CCC’s vision and mission and the needs of Coconino County’s residents and businesses.

Election Day Poll Workers Needed, Training and Compensation Provided

The Coconino County Elections Office continues to recruit for Election Board Workers (poll workers) for the upcoming General Election on November 8. Workers must be at least eighteen years old and registered to vote in Coconino County.

Compensation will be $215 plus gas mileage. Pay requirements: 

Two-hour training session prior to the election
One-hour pre-election meeting – November 7 in the evening
Election Day full shift – November 8, 5:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Bilingual report — PreventT2 Lifestyle Change Class in Spanish

North Country HealthCare is hosting a program for individuals at risk of developing diabetes in order to assist you in improving your health as well as reducing the risk of developing diabetes. In the program you will learn methods of losing weight, be more physically active, and manage stress. These small changes in your lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the National Diabetes Prevention Program.

Sedona Arts Center — 18th Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival starts this weekend!

Sedona Arts Center invites you along to be inspired and experience master artists painting in the Shangri-La of the Southwest! Sedona is a sublime and stunningly beautiful environment steeped in art history. Sedona Arts Center dates back 63 years to the founding of Sedona’s identity as an ‘art colony.’ Our community’s iconic and wonderfully creative event—Sedona Plein Air Festival—is a week-long celebration of extraordinary landscapes, world-renowned artists, unique workshops, and wonderful free events from October 21 through 29!

HECHO October Newsletter

It has been an incredible month for HECHO, celebrating public lands policy wins and elevating the voices and visibility of Hispanic leaders in public lands decision-making and advocacy. Our Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council (HCLC) members continue to grow and make a difference in their communities.

On September 28th through 30th, HECHO brought Hispanic leaders from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah to Washington D.C. to advocate on conservation issues, including protecting the Grand Canyon watershed from uranium mining, saving Oak Flat from a copper mine, the resilience of the Colorado River, and making communities whole after the devastating Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon wildfire. They met with members of Congress and federal agencies. Read a recap of HECHO’s first advocacy trip.

The NAU Review — Removing greenhouse gases from the air, a professor makes history and an innovation hub

We know the Earth is warming, and society is struggling to slow emissions quickly enough to make a real difference. So scientists are looking at other options, including removing greenhouse gases from the air. Easy, right? According to mechanical engineer Jennifer Wade, it’s a difficult task, but not an insurmountable one. She is leading two federally funded projects that are addressing the critical question of how to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, thus slowing the devastating effects of global climate change. It’s part of a national effort called the Carbon Negative Earthshot: Being able to remove carbon at $100 a ton at a scale of a million tons per year. Learn how her lab is working toward that goal.

CCC Auto Tech program back in the game beginning Oct. 24

After a short delay, the Coconino Community College Automotive Technology program is back and ready for students beginning Monday, Oct. 24.

“CCC’s Automotive Technology has grown in the year since it started,” said Provost Dr. Nate Southerland. “When our instructor backed out right before the start of the semester and we had to suspend the program, we were heartbroken. We are thrilled to be able to get back up to speed and look forward to serving the students whose plans were disrupted at the beginning of the semester.”

The cost of living in Flagstaff made the process of hiring a full-time faculty member for the program a challenge, and the program was forced into a holding pattern until a full-time faculty member could be found.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap Up: Oct. 17-21, 2022

Successful vaccine event in Grand Canyon; Flu and COVID vaccines available October 25 in Tusayan

The Coconino County Health and Human Services Mobile Vaccine Team came to the park on Tuesday for a flu and COVID vaccine event. Thank you to the Grand Canyon Rec Center for hosting this event and the Mobile Vaccine Team who successfully vaccinated more than 100 individuals. The team will next be at the Tusayan Fire Department on October 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Due to popular demand of these events, please arrive early to ensure you receive assistance.

COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines will be available at this event (to include the new COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine) for those ages 6 months and older. See the attached flyer for the Tusayan event here.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Final week to purchase tickets for CCC&Y’s 50th Anniversary celebration on Oct. 27

This is the final week to get tickets to our 50th anniversary celebration.  We have representation of more than 20 organizations so far, and of course, all the couples, friends and folks out for a date night. 

 Purchase tickets here!

Your ticket includes appetizers, drink ticket (cash bar), dinner and a full concert (w/ dance floor) from Flagstaff’s own Mother Road Trio.

Please help us celebrate the stars in our community who helped make this last 50 years such a success – and come help us get the next 50 years off to a great start!

The event is open to all – and we are thanking our members with special discounted rates

If you would like to become a member prior to your ticket purchase, please visit our website for more information 

Sample Ballots Are in the Mail for the November 8 General Election

One General Election sample ballot has been mailed to each household in Coconino County that has a registered voter who has not already been issued an early ballot. 

Coconino County strongly encourages all voters in the household to become familiar with the candidates and measures on the sample ballot in preparation for voting on November 8. 

Voters may bring a sample ballot to their polling location to use as a guide, but it cannot be used as an official ballot. 

The NAU Review — The dangers of a thawing Arctic, putting Homecoming 🎡 on your calendar and National Transfer Student Week

Mark your calendars! It’s time to celebrate the Lumberjack family.

This year, NAU is celebrating 123 years as an institution, and Lumberjacks from near and far are returning to their alma mater to help celebrate during Homecoming week. With a variety of activities scheduled for Nov. 1-5, Lumberjacks of all ages are encouraged to participate. VP of Alumni Engagement Stephanie Smith said, “We sure do have a lot to celebrate this year! If this is your first year at NAU or your 20th year in Flagstaff, Homecoming is a fun time for all. And don’t forget to bring your roommate, friends, neighbors and family to the parade before cheering on the Jacks against Montana State!”

Early Voting Has Started for November 8 General Election

The Coconino County Recorder’s office has mailed 64,300 early ballots to registered voters for the upcoming November 8 General Election.  Early voters that are on the Active Early Voting List (AEVL) and have not received their ballots by Wednesday, October 19 should call the Recorder’s Office at 928-679-7860 or 800-793-6181 to make sure there is not a problem with their voter registration status or mailing address.

Registered voters that are not on the AEVL may request an early ballot be mailed to them by calling the Recorder’s Office, sending a written request to Coconino County Recorder’s Office, 110 E. Cherry Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, or submitting an on-line request at www.coconino.az.gov/elections and clicking on “Early Ballot Request.”  The deadline to request an early ballot by mail is October 28. 

Bilingual report — It’s that time of year again, time for your annual flu vaccination!

It’s that time of year again, time for your annual flu vaccination! Flu vaccination has many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illness, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death.

Getting a seasonal vaccine is especially important for young children because they are at increased risk of getting severe illness from flu.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Celebrating Small Manufacturers: Chocolita

October is National Manufacturing Month, a time when we celebrate a sector that, according to McKinsey & Company, generates $2.3 trillion of the U.S. gross domestic product, employs 12 million people, and accounts for 70% of R&D investment.

But those outsized statistics are mostly fueled by small companies; the Small Business Administration estimates that three out of every four manufacturers in the U.S. have 20 employees or less.

Companies like Chocolita, maker of botanical, organic chocolates, which recently moved from a cooperative kitchen in Sedona to open a combined manufacturing/retail outlet in Kachina Square in Flagstaff.

Grand Canyon National Park — Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap Up: Oct.10-14, 2022

Flu and COVID vaccines available October 18 in Grand Canyon, October 25 in Tusayan

The Coconino County Health and Human Services Mobile Vaccine Team will be coming to the park on Tuesday, October 18. The event will take place at the Grand Canyon Rec Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The team will also be in Tusayan at the Tusayan Fire Department on Tuesday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines will be available at this event (to include the new COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine) for those ages 6 months and older. See the attached flyer for the Grand Canyon event here and the Tusayan event here.

CCC a triple play for construction student

Lucas Giannetti wanted to continue to learn and to grow in the construction trades. He also wanted to land an internship with a local contractor. He also wanted to start his own business doing finishing work on homes.

He found all three at Coconino Community College.

Giannetti learned many construction skills from his father.

“Throughout my childhood, we worked together on home improvement projects on our home,” Giannetti said, adding that although he had basic skills, he didn’t see construction as a viable option due to pressures from school counselors and his parents to pursue a four-year degree. He found a program in Environmental Science in North Carolina – primarily because he loves the outdoors – but while in the program and looking at jobs in the field, Giannetti realized he wouldn’t be able to afford to pay back the debt of a four-year degree.

So, he left university and began traveling the country and getting jobs in the trades.

“I felt like my learning was slowing down,” Giannetti said. “I wanted to expand my opportunities for learning.”

The NAU Review — One student’s story of war and survival, calling for donations and testing air quality at the Cocopah Head Start

Surviving refugee camps, abuse and losing loved ones to suicide
Personalized Learning student Aida Sibic grew up in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There, she experienced firsthand the horrors of war, genocide and the trauma that followed. She recently sat down with The NAU Review to discuss her childhood, how she and her family escaped war, what brought her to NAU and her recently published memoir, Luck Follows the Brave.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Help Them Reach Their Potential

A teenage girl gains confidence by being a Girl Scout, and discovers deep wells of resourcefulness and flexibility when the pandemic throws a wrench in her plans.
A homeless boy receives life coaching at his shelter that enables him to successfully find and keep a job, breaking the cycle of poverty.
A cohort of 6th graders learn about the natural wonders of northern Arizona at Camp Colton, sparking a drive to be better stewards of the earth.
These stories are all the result of United Way of Northern Arizona’s commitment to positive youth development.

You can Step Up for our youth with your gift and help ensure our children reach their full potential and become competent, confident, and caring adults.

Just look at Emily’s story and how she adapted and persevered while trying to educate others about the importance of bees.

Discover Flagstaff — Enjoy peak fall colors and great events happening in Flagstaff this weekend

2022 LEAFometer

Discover Flagstaff this fall with the Discover Flagstaff LEAF-ometer. The #LEAFometer (Lee-faa-muh-tr: like speedometer) requires updates from our partners. Look for updates from the City of Flagstaff, Arboretum, AZ Snowbowl, Lowell Observatory, the Inner Basin, Oak Creek Canyon and the City of Sedona.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y presents free webinars on understanding how emotions impact adult and child relationships

We are so excited to announce our newest offering. 

Motivated by a long wait list for behavioral health services, and aware of challenging adult and child emotions causing behavior difficulties, Bethany Camp put this two part training together for CCC&Y to help meeting a wide-spread community need.

First we learn to understand our emotions and then we can understand and respond to the big emotional responses of children.

Watch Webinar – Managing Adult Emotional Responses, Part One

Watch Webinar – Helping Children Manage Their Emotions, Part Two

These videos are meant to help support our community.  Having the tools to take care of ourselves and respond to children, is a great resource.

Read More

Business Opportunity Announced for the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent, Ed Keable, has announced the availability of a prospectus for a business opportunity in the park to provide lodging, food and beverage, retail, and other visitor services on the North Rim. The prospectus released today outlines this business opportunity, describes the existing business, and provides details on how to submit a responsive proposal.  

The services provided under the new contract encompass the majority of the commercial visitor services on the North Rim. It includes services currently provided by Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services, LLC This contract currently earns gross revenues of approximately $13 million per year, with 219 guest rooms, four restaurants and bars, gift shop, general store, public showers and laundry, and gas station. 

The NAU Review — NAU’s campuswide family reunion, how to celebrate Disability Pride and Heritage Month and a local movie premiere

This weekend, NAU played host to thousands of VIPs—the families of our Lumberjacks. This year’s Family Weekend included a barbecue, casino night and football and volleyball victories. NAU Social captured it all, snapping pictures and interviewing a few Lumberjack families about why they love Flagstaff and NAU. Check out the photos, listen to the podcast and watch the video now. 

Join North Country Health Care weekly class at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays on Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

Community members are preventing type 2 diabetes together with the PreventT2 lifestyle change program offered by North Country HealthCare. The program is free and open to the public! Guided by a trained lifestyle coach, groups of participants are learning the skills they need to make lasting changes such as losing a modest amount of weight, being more physically active, and managing stress. 

People with prediabetes — higher-than-normal blood glucose (sugar) levels — are 5 to 15 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with normal blood glucose levels. In fact, many people with prediabetes can be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within 5 years. 

“One in three American adults has prediabetes, so the need for prevention has never been greater,” said Shannon Williams, diabetes program manager at North Country HealthCare. “The PreventT2 program offers a proven approach to preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes through modest lifestyle changes made with the support of a coach and one’s peers.”

Bilingual report — New COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccine now available

Coconino County Vaccination Locations

Coconino County Testing Locations

FLAGSTAFF — Here is some information on the location and times you can get the vaccine to help protect you against the Omicron variant.

Vaccines are available at the Coconino County Health and Human Services, 2625 N. King St., Flagstaff.

Wednesdays 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thursdays, 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Fridays, 8:30 – 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Northern AZ community colleges sign historic partnership agreement to benefit students, community

The four community college districts covering all northern Arizona have entered into a historic partnership agreement to help better serve students.

The presidents of Coconino Community College, Mohave Community College, Northland Pioneer College, and Yavapai College recently signed an intergovernmental agreement called the Northern Arizona Community College Partnership (NACCP). 

The NACCP calls on the districts to collaborate and combine resources to better serve citizens and communities throughout northern Arizona. This includes sharing college courses to improve student success and completion and enhancing workforce development by utilizing each district’s vast array of unique programs. 

“I am continually impressed with the number and quality of the partnerships I have seen since arriving at Coconino Community College,” said CCC Interim President Christal Albrecht. “It seems that the colleges genuinely want to work together, recognizing the positive impact their efforts will have on our collective students.”

Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez District 2 Newsletter — 15th Edition

Thank you for your patience as well as the community residents who have
been engaged within the efforts of Coconino County during this past
summer. We have, as a county, experienced historical amounts of floods—
totaling 45 floods. The pipeline fire as well as the tunnel fire have resulted
in the increase and impact of floods during our monsoon season. It has
been taxing for everyone in our community, especially those who have
been directly impacted by the fires and floods through property, emotional,
and physical damage. I want to acknowledge our resilience as a
community as well as the collective efforts that have taken place across
the board. I want to thank our first-responders, county staff, community
volunteers, vendors, and the nonprofit organizations who all came together
to help our community in our time of need.
The county moving forward wants to address two key issues: long-term
mitigation and government funding. We have made strides towards trying
to secure federal funding to best direct our actions towards re-building.
We want to focus on three components: forest restoration, channels, and
highway improvements. We are working very closely together during this
time with our community, and overall county. Please email me your
concerns with as much detail as possible.
Email: jvasquez@coconino.az.gov

Testing of Election Equipment in Coconino County on October 9

The public is invited to observe Logic and Accuracy Testing of the programs and equipment that will be used in the general election in Coconino County on November 8. The tests serve to confirm that all accessible voting equipment works properly and that each tabulator accurately tallies a predetermined, marked set of ballots.

The tests will be performed on October 9 beginning at 9 a.m. at 1186 W University Ave, Suite C in Flagstaff. There is limited space in the onsite viewing room; the public is asked to arrive by 8:45 a.m. The testing will be streamed live on the County webpage Live Feed beginning at 9 a.m. 

As stated on the Arizona Secretary of State website, “Before each election, voting equipment is tested to ensure that it is operating correctly. This test is performed by the election officials conducting the election as well as by the Secretary of State’s Office.”

Coconino County Parks & Recreation October Update — Halloween Haunted Hike on Oct. 28

Halloween Haunted Hike

Oct 28, 2022

5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

This program will provide you with an opportunity to get outside at night in our beautiful parks and open spaces. Our instructors will tell ghost stories and we may encounter some spooky things along our hike! The trip will provide a unique prospective of our local flora and fauna while getting you active!

We will hike the Solders Trail around the Fort Tuthill County Park as the moon rises about the horizon and peaks through the trees. Hot cocoa will be provided partway along our hike! Headlamps will be provided. Register here!

CCC’s Burns takes first in Mesa

Hayley Burns, runner for the Coconino Community College Cross Country Comets, nabbed first place during the Women 5K Run at the Mesa College XC Jamboree on Saturday, Oct. 1.

Respectable showings among the women’s and men’s teams positioned CCC with a third-place berth for the women’s team and a fifth-place finish for the men’s team, who bested Phoenix College, ranked 20th in the nation. Currently, CCC’s women’s team is ranked seventh in the nation among community colleges.

“The men’s and women’s teams have shown great growth over the season, and we plan on continuing that trend heading into the championship portion of our season,” said CCC Comets Head Coach Craig Hunt. “We have had some tremendous performances already this season, but I believe our best is still ahead of us.”

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Oct. 3-7, 2022

The Coconino County Health and Human Services Mobile Vaccine Team will be coming to the park next on Tuesday, October 18. The event will take place at the Grand Canyon Rec Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The team will also be in Tusayan at the Tusayan Fire Department on Tuesday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  

COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines will be available at this event (to include the new COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine) for those ages 6 months and older. See the attached flyer for the Grand Canyon event here and the Tusayan event here. 

You’re Invited to F3’s Annual Meeting Sunday Oct. 16th

Join Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) at our Annual Meeting and Potluck.

Sunday October 16th, 3:00-5:00 pm
Outside at Riordan Mansion’s Veranda
409 W Riordan Rd.
Parking available at the Riordan State Park or
paid parking in the adjacent NAU parking garage

At the meeting you’ll learn about F3’s work this year as well as important issues on which we’ll be focusing in 2023. You’ll meet F3’s Executive Director, F3 Board members, and lots of community members.

We’ll have live music and a potluck. You’re welcome to bring a dish or desert to share, or come without one.

RSVP with a quick email and let us know your name and how many will be attending. You’re welcome to bring a friend!

The NAU Review — Our Homecoming dedicatee, a beetle’s gut and how to get your NAUPD pink patch

Alicia Voytek named Homecoming dedicatee!
Voytek was presenting to a group of campus living staff when the team’s meeting was interrupted by a crowd of people who marched in the room, waving pompoms and cheering loudly. “Um, what’s happening?” she asked. The intruders circled around her, and Voytek’s eyes began to well as she realized the cause for the unannounced parade: she was this year’s Homecoming dedicatee.